4 min read

⏳ Thursday Fix: The Ball is in Our Court

⏳ Thursday Fix: The Ball is in Our Court

Morning all,

The Women's Tennis Association have suspended all tournaments in China as concerns for player Peng Shuai continue.

Until tomorrow,

Your Fixers


GOOD LISTENER?

Below is an audio version of today's newsletter.


PENG SHUAI

The Women's Tennis Association (WTA) has suspended all tournaments in China amid "serious doubts" over the safety of tennis player Peng Shuai.

Remember: In early November, Chinese tennis player Peng Shuai published an open letter online, accusing the country's former vice premier of forcing her to have sex with him. The pair are understood to have had an on/off consensual affair over the course of a decade or so.

Within half an hour of the revelation, the post was deleted and a huge censorship effort began.

While we now know where Peng is, I have serious doubts that she is free, safe and not subject to censorship, coercion and intimidation... I don’t see how I can ask our athletes to compete there when Peng Shuai is not allowed to communicate freely and has seemingly been pressured to contradict her allegation of sexual assault." - WTA Chairman and CEO, Steve Simon

FRENCH FALLOUT

French President Emmanuel Macron reportedly called Prime Minister Boris Johnson a "clown" and a "knucklehead," according to reports in French media.

The comments were allegedly made to a small group of advisors last week, amid tensions between both countries over the Channel crossings.


ON TODAY'S AGENDA

German Chancellor Angela Merkel will be honoured with a televised ceremony later today, to mark the end of her 16-year tenure.

Merkel is expected to officially hand over power to Olaf Scholz during the first half of next week.


WATCHING OUT FOR...

Alec Baldwin will appear in a lengthy exclusive interview with a US network tonight, weeks after the accidental fatal shooting on set of cinematographer, Halyna Hutchins.

In the teaser clip below, Baldwin is heard saying he did not pull the trigger, adding "I would never point a gun at anyone and pull a trigger at them. Never."

Interviewer George Stephanopoulos described the 90-minute interview as "the most intense" he has ever experienced.


PANDEMIC

On Wednesday, the US, Ireland and Saudi Arabia all reported their first cases of the Omicron variant.

Oh, btw...


MOST READ


#HAVEYOURSAY

Assisted dying - should we have a right to choose when we die?

On Tuesday, we asked our Instagram followers for their thoughts on assisted dying and euthanasia.

It is currently illegal in Britain, but is being debated in the House of Lords, while New Zealand and Portugal have both recently passed laws allowing euthanasia for those that are terminally ill.

Anyway, 84% of you felt it should be legal, while 95% of you said a person's diagnosis would be a determining factor for you rather than a person's age.

Here are some of your thoughts on the matter;

Opinion 1: "I think it should be legal but would need very strict guidelines! But there's also the complex matter of mental health - is that taken into account anywhere?"

Opinion 2: "People may feel like they are a burden and feel obligated to end their life."

Opinion 3:"A doctor can judge if  someone was sane when killing someone, they can judge if sane to want to end their own life."


TWITTER TRENDS

A petition calling for the media to stop interviewing Will Smith and his wife, Jada Pinkett-Smith, has gathered close to 10,000 signatures.

While an exact reason for the petition was not given, one person who signed it said "everything I learn about this couple is against my will - free us".

The Hollywood couple have been incredibly open about intimate details of their relationship, including documenting their sex life, and speaking coyly about rumoured extra marital affairs.


GUESS WHAT?

Britney Spears turns 40 today! Keep an eye for a little fun quiz on our Instagram page later.


ON A LIGHTER NOTE...

Saying it with passion!